For some, the beginning of September is about back-to-school. In my case, it’s time to start thinking about planning new trips for the season ahead. Here are some places around the world that would be great for October travel. Africa & Asia Tanzania We saw spectacular wildlife in the Serengeti, Ngorogoro Crater and Tarangire National […]

My recent vacation in Costa Rica reminded me of my last Central American trip over a decade ago. I’ve written about the Guatemala part of the trip before, but I wanted to relive the Belize memories too. The jungle I was backpacking with my friend Janet, and we started out in San Ignacio to explore […]

The Roman historical sites we visited in both Rome and Pompei got me thinking about just how many ruins I’ve seen in my travels. Many times I’ve sought them out. There’s something fascinating about walking through the remnants of a society and contemplating how and why the place was abandoned. Here are five of the […]

I’m so happy we had time to explore some less visited Rome neighbourhoods in addition to seeing the big attractions. It was nice to escape the lineups and crowds and see different sides of the city. Depending on your time and interests, you may want to include one or more of these in your plans […]

We knew Rome would be hot in July, but even the Romans were complaining that temperatures were higher than usual. The crowds were at their peak too, but still we were spellbound, following in the footsteps of popes, emperors and gladiators in the Eternal City. A piazza to call home Our home base at the […]

I was on my way from Saigon to see the famed temples of Angkor. It was a long, hot, bumpy ride to Phnom Penh. There were miles of rice paddies and many, many water buffalo wading through the watery ditches and fields. Once we crossed the border into Cambodia, almost everyone we passed waved at our van – both […]

Turkey is a paradise for lovers of Greco-Roman history. In fact, it’s been said that there are more Greek and Roman ruins in Turkey than there are in Greece or Italy. We managed to see quite a few during our travels around Western and Central Turkey, and each one offered something unique. Ephesus Even though […]

Guatemala is such a treat for the senses. Pastel colonial buildings line the streets in Flores and Antigua. Vibrant textiles, brightly patterned traditional clothing and decorated buses present a swirl of colour. Markets and jungles are a cacophony of sounds and smells, and festivals bring even more sensory delights to the streets. Ancient civilization meets jungle

Trekking the Inca Trail was both physically and mentally challenging, and the 4-day hiking experience definitely involved some roughing it. Was it worth the effort? Here’s how it all went down …and up … and down … and up. Day 1: uphill all the way Our group of 15 hikers knew we were in for about […]